- Bar OSullivan
- Fri, Sep 26 2008
Bohemians continued their march towards the title at Tolka Park on Friday night, when they came from a goal down to record a 2-1 win over bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers. Gary Deegan cancelled out Rovers' opener a few seconds before the end of the first half, before a virtuoso second half performance was rewarded with a goal fifteen minutes from time, when substitute Mindaugus Kalonas made an almost immediate impact.
Rovers had been the last team to beat Brian Murphy in the league, way back at the beginning of August at Dalymount. And Rovers did it again, this time through Tadhg Purcell. Immediately prior to taking the lead Rovers had been reduced to ten men.
It was all Rovers in the opening ten minutes. Pat Flynn, once again operating in midfield, picked out the cross field run of winger Sean O'Connor with a perfectly weighted pass over the top of the static Bohemians defensive line of four. The former St Pat's man had a quick look up and cut the ball back for Joey Ndo. Ndo took it in his stride and connected sweetly just inside the box, however Murphy pulled off a fabulous save with his left hand.
Full back Corey Treacy then smacked a delicious diagonal ball from left to right over the head of Bohs' full back Mark Rossitor. Sean O'Connor sped in behind him, but an end product was lacking on this occasion. Purcell then tested Murphy with a tame shot from twenty yards.
Killian Brennan took a self imposed tumble in the box after fifteen minutes, and unsurprisingly referee Alan Kelly wasn't interested.
Kelly's interest was certainly aroused two minutes later, though, and he had little choice but to dismiss Darragh Maguire after he hauled down Neale Fenn just a few yards short of the penalty box. It had been Maguire's original error that presented possession to Fenn.
Just three minutes after being reduced to ten men, Rovers took the lead. Sean O'Connor received a short corner and whipped in a near post cross. Purcell lost his marker and glanced a perfectly placed header low into the far corner of the net, giving Murphy little or no chance.
Four minutes before the break a slick passing move nearly brought Bohs level. Rossitor started the attack with a ball into the feet of Crowe, who in turn flicked it into the path of Fenn. Stephen O'Donnell charged through the middle and Fenn obliged by picking him out with a smart, but simple, ball. The midfielder evaded the first challenge, but his touch was then too heavy and Robert Duggan came from his line to collect.
Then on the stroke of half time Pat Fenlon's side equalised when Crowe had time and space to slip a ball right through the heart of the Rovers defence. Gary Deegan cleverly got on the blindside of Danny O'Connor, and finished neatly with a low shot that went in off the inside of the upright.
The first half had been a even contest, but the visitors showed in the second half just how good they are this season and why, after tonight's result they are a massive nineteen points clear at the top of the table
A Brennan free kick on fifty minutes had Duggan in trouble, he parried it under pressure and was lucky that there wasn't an opposition player in close enough proximity to take advantage. Brennan was the danger man again five minutes later. Crowe played him in and only a last ditch block by Ger O'Brien prevented the Drogheda native getting a shot in.
Rovers were failing to close down Fenn when he dropped deep, and his one-two with Crowe presented Bohs with another opening, but Crowe's volley under pressure was high and wide.
Duggan then made a fantastic reflex save on the hour mark. The ball was speeding to his right until Treacy's head sent it in the opposite direction. The young keeper re-adjusted his feet quickly and got a strong hand behind the ball. Minutes later Duggan nearly undid his good work when trying to prevent a corner. He played the ball into the path of Crowe, but the striker's effort from close range went across the face of the goal and wide.
With fifteen minutes left on the clock Bohs took a deserved lead. Owen Heary released substitute Mindaugus Kalonas on the right wing. The Lithuanian matched full back Treacy for pace, but then cut back away from the byline and fired a low shot goalwards that Duggan really should have saved at his near post.
Shamrock Rovers: Robert Duggan; Ger O'Brien, Simon Madden, Darragh Maguire, Corie Tracey (John Martin 82); Sean O'Connor, Danny O'Connor, Joseph Ndo, Pat Flynn, Eoin Doyle (Stephen Rice 21); Tadhg Purcell (Padraig Amond 63).
Subs not used: Eric McGill, Karl Coleman.
Booked: Flynn.
Sent Off: Maguire (17).
Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Liam Burns, Jason McGuinness, Anto Murphy (Mindaugas Kalonas 78); Mark Rossiter, Gary Deegan (Thomas Heary 90), Stephen O'Donnell (Glenn Cronin 82), Killian Brennan; Neale Fenn, Glen Crowe.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Jason Byrne.
Referee: Alan Kelly.
Attendance: 2,500 (estimate)
